Milesi Resigned to Hypercar Sabbatical, Eyes 2028 Return

Charles Milesi has admitted that he will likely not be on the grid in the FIA World Endurance Championship next season amid Alpine’s impending exit, and is already turning his attention to plotting a way back on to the Hypercar grid in 2028.

The French driver said during this month’s 6 Hours of Barcelona weekend that he doesn’t expect to race in WEC in 2027 amid fading hopes of the current Signatech-run Alpine program continuing beyond this season under an alternative banner.

Chinese auto giant Geely was linked to a possible takeover of the Philippe Sinault-led team, but talks are believed to have ended without an agreement.

Against that backdrop, Milesi said that the sheer volume of available drivers — including all three of his current Alpine stablemates — and the fact so much time has passed without news of the Signatech program’s future had made the outlook bleak.

“The later it is in the season with nothing announced, the less good it starts to look,” Milesi told Sportscar365. “We wanted to see what was going to happen with the Alpine program, but it looks like it will probably be difficult.

“There are not a lot of seats available [elsewhere] next year. If we cannot have a seat [in WEC], I will try to find something else.

“I am not the only one in this situation. Only Antonio [Felix da Costa] found a seat [among this year’s Alpine drivers]. Then we’ll see what the future brings.”

He added: “There are so many drivers on the market and not enough teams actually, even if there are a lot of teams on the grid. There are way too many drivers available.

“If it’s not possible [to stay in WEC], maybe 2028. It has been the same for the last six or seven months, since it was announced that the program is stopping.

“I’m not saying it’s routine for us, that maybe we are not going to drive next year in Hypercar, but I think that’s what [the situation] is.”

Milesi pointed to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he has acted as an extra driver for LMP2 squad TDS Racing in recent years, as an alternative destination for 2027 while he arranges a way to return to WEC the next year.

“Maybe something can come up in IMSA or whatever,” said Milesi. “On my side I have some hints about what could be available, but I know it’s going to be difficult.”

Gounon: LMP2 of Little Interest Amid Mercedes-AMG Commitments

While Milesi did not discounted the prospect of a full-time switch to LMP2, a class in which he is also active in the European Le Mans Series, his fellow Alpine driver Jules Gounon all but ruled out a move to the secondary prototype class.

Gounon pointed out he has a valid contract with Mercedes-AMG through 2028, and as such will return to focusing on GT3 competition next year, something he admitted makes him “very lucky to be honest” compared to Alpine’s other drivers.

“I am back for sure in GT3 next year, which is not a downgrade, because I have amazing programs, with the Verstappen project, 24-hour races, and you always have a chance to win because the AMG is such a great car,” Gounon told reporters at Barcelona.

“I will focus on that next year and try and wrap up some big ones.”

When asked if LMP2 was an option to build on his prototype racing experience, Gounon said only a drive in the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be of any interest.

“I think if you have the chance to be with a manufacturer, and that manufacturer is AMG, why would I go LMP2?” he said. “I already proved I can be a good Hypercar driver, so I don’t want to go to LMP2.

“Maybe at Le Mans, but maybe Mercedes-AMG has a car for me at Le Mans in GT.”